The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-09-29
Three Scenes In a Life.

AVN NV W W ~ VIVA va
the floor of a gambling saloon at
Foudriere, all traces Of which the at
tendants were hastily removing; not
much to hear-only the footsteps of
those who were carrying out the dead,
and the idle comments of players and
loungers. II -.
''Not a case Of suicide" said a gentle
man to nm English officer who was
standing near the doors-"oh. no! He
burst. q blood vessel in his intense ex-
'titcment, and died Instantly. An
Englishmanp Well, yes, I think So
husband of that pretty girl we saw
yesterday lat the hotel. Very i'll she
looked; and quite a young child was at
her side"
And then arose the cry of "Faites e
jeu, msessseurs"! --and the death scene
was forgotten, and the gamblers re-
sumed their absorbing play.
***x $685. $3.50 $3.50
A small apartment in a quiet street.
and a girl leaning from an open ease
ment, gazing at the peaceful sky. Her
face was very pale, with deep shadows
under the eyes, telling Of many a weary
vigil like that which she was then
keeping.
Would he retrive all, as he had as
sured herp Would the terrible losses
of the past weeks be repaired in a few
short hoursP So he had said, and so
believed, and in hearing him she be-
lieved also.
And now would the long hours never
'pass-would he never come? She look
ed around at the neat but poor room,
at the sleeping child, and at the little
table with the white roll and flask of
cheap wine-all their scanty mean
would allow her to provide-and then,
turning again to the window, she re-
sumed her lonely watch. shivering
slightly as the breeze rutied her soft
brown curles and the night birds. cry
fell on the stiffness of the deserted
street.
Not many months before, Harry
Vaughan. with his wife and child, had
arrived at Foudriere. He was an art
list. and hoped by a winter amongst
fairer scenes and in milder air to re-
cruit his failing health and find fresh
subjects for his pencil.
It was on one of his sketching excur-
sions that he formed the acquaintance
of a young Frenchman, who tempted
him into a gaming saloon with no other
thought than that of passing away an
idle hour. But the consequences of
that one visit had been fatal. Several
men were winning heavily, and the ex-
element of play entered like madness
into the brain of the young English
man, and he staked again and again
small sums, certainly, but still enough
to feed the, flame of gambling within
him., for he won every time.
From that moment art and the love
of art died within him. and in its stead
rose up a fierce passion for gambling.
1t was only when his little store of
money had dwindled to the last coin
that he seemed to realize his position,
and then he cursed the madness that
brought him to ruin. s. .&f
As TIE young wife leaned from the
casemt Mt. she dwelt with feverish rest
lessness upon the events of the pastday
how the young Frenchman who had
first awakened in Harry the love of
play had been shocked at the misery he
had so unwittingly caused, and had
pressed on him the loan of one hum
dred francs, exacting the promise that,
if he tried his luck once again, and fall
~l hn Srr0v11l NJ nn0o 0oI fn,sovop niryn
up the gaming-table and return to his
work. ~
Flushed with hope. and a strong
determination tolkeep his word, Har-
ny bade Margaret adieu with more than
usual tenderness. and went out, as
he said to conquer fate"
Some of his spirit entered into the
Door girls heart, and filed it for q
brief moment with hope. Then in an
agony of fear and love, she called him
back, and implored him with many
tears and sobs, whether he lost or won,
never to enter a gambling house again.
Il will promise you, DEAR" he said
softly, putting her gently from him,
and so went out to meet his doom.
+4%+ *.*+ y++*+ ***+
He would neyer win or lose again,
and meyer more would Margaret keep
her, lonelyS watch for his dear sake.
p Strangers hands had laid him to rest
in tho quiet graveyard; and now, with
fearless agony, Margaret. knelt alone
bekide her sleeping child.
O They had nothing left; and without
food her child must die. Suddenly {
burning flush mounted to her brow,
and, starting to her feet. she drew the
aWsdding. ring, from her wasted finger.
and kissing it pass; onately. hurried
from the room. as if fearful that her
resolution might give way. ,
"A little later, with few francs clasp
ed in her burning hand. she hastene.l
not to the poor room she called llel
home. but to the gaming saloon where
her infatuated. husband had died no
many days before.
us it not true,'' she kept repeating
to herself, that q new player Away
winsP Then ! shall Win!--and, NUT
tering the. same words again n daggain
she passed unchallenged through TIL
wide open doors, up the splendid stair
case, and into q large saloon whers
men and women, in silent. terrible ear
nest, were gambling at the tables
Margaret staked two or three francs
with feYerish haste.
The English ofdcer-Capt. Mostyn--.
who had. Witnessed her husband
death now stood intently regarding her
He moved restlessly, as If impellet
against his will to interfere.
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